Method for providing a transient dictionary that travels with an original electronic document

A method, in a data processing system, for generating an electronic document, comprising:

• receiving textual content of the electronic document;
• receiving a selection of a term in the textual content;
• receiving a dictionary definition of the selected term;
• storing the dictionary definition in a transient document associated electronic dictionary that is linked to the electronic document;
• storing the electronic document and the transient document associated electronic dictionary in association with one another wherein, in response to electronic distribution of the electronic document to one or more recipient computer systems, the transient document associated electronic dictionary is automatically distributed along with the electronic document, by virtue of the electronic document and transient document associated electronic dictionary being stored in association with one another, to the one or more recipient computer systems;
• receiving the electronic document and the associated transient document associated dictionary at a recipient computing device;
• loading the transient document associated dictionary to augment a local permanent dictionary of the recipient computing device;
• outputting a request, at the recipient computing device, requesting that a user indicate whether the transient document associated dictionary is to augment the local permanent dictionary of the recipient computing device permanently or temporarily;
• permanently adding definitions from the transient document associated dictionary to the local permanent dictionary of the recipient computing device in response to the user indicating that the transient document associated dictionary is to augment the local permanent dictionary permanently;
• and
• preventing the definitions from the transient document associated dictionary from permanently being added to the local permanent dictionary of the recipient computing device in response to the user indicating that the transient document associated dictionary is to augment the local permanent dictionary temporarily such that the definitions from the transient document associated dictionary are only used with the associated electronic document and not with other electronic documents.